The Lakerhead

Lakers Dominate! (That’s My Story, And I’m Sticking To It)

Before the start of game 7, I was a nervous wreck.  I couldn’t imagine a worse ending to the season than losing to a Yao Ming-less, Tracy McGrady-less Houston Rockets team.  And I knew the Lakers were inconsistent enough to make that nightmare a reality.

Funny thing about inconsistency-sometimes it pleasantly surprises you.  Take Game 7 against the Rockets, which the Lakers pounded their way to victory, 89-70.

You Think This Game Was Important for the Lakers? You Have No Idea.

I felt like I had entered a time machine, which took me back about 6 months.  There was Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, dominating the glass, and making their opponents eat layups and dunks all game.  There was Trevor Ariza, knocking down threes at Staples Center and playing great D.

There was Derek Fisher, actually making a few open outside shots.  It was one of those dominating games where Kobe cruised with only 14 points (played team ball with 7 rebounds and 5 assists), didn’t shoot the ball well, and it absolutely did not matter.

Gasol Screamed His Way to 21 Points and 18 Rebounds, Tree Trunk Chuck Hayes Guarding Him and All.

The Lakers are so inconsistent, my hopes for them winning a championship go from dashed to reborn game by game.  Right now, I am at the reborn state.

The Lakers showed me great defense, and once again showed that an active Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum inside will give any team fits.

As we say goodbye to the hard working gentlemen, Shane Battier, the speedy Aaron Brooks, the feisty Luis Scola, and the…er…muscular Ron Artest, the Lakers should probably learn a great lesson which I don’t know they will.

Kobe and Artest are Totally BFF Now. OK, Maybe Not.

If you want to win a championship, you need to bring insane effort every game.  Can Phil Jackson instill that mentality onto his team this late?  Considering Phil brought Kobe back into the game at the 4:07 mark in the 4th quarter, up 26 points, I’m not sure Jackson is on the same planet right now.

But maybe that’s just what the Lakers need.  An out of this world experience to shake them up and make them better.  They might not have expected it, but they just had one in their series against the Rockets.